This digest discusses five major issues and trends that significantly affect career planning professionals: (1) changing demographics; (2) the increasing role of computers in career planning; (3) a new orientation to international employment; (4) video tape technology; and (5) an increased emphasis on marketing. (NB)

Retirement is a phenomenon of contemporary, industrialized nations. Retirement, which may be either voluntary or forced, generally refers to that phase in life when full-time, paid employment ceases. Depending on individual circumstances, it may be viewed as either a positive or negative event. Retirement planning and preparation are key factors…

This digest provides an overview of Native American demography, education, employment, and health conditions. In the 1990 census, 1.9 million Americans claimed American Indian status and over 5 million indicated Indian descent. About 637,000 lived on reservations or trust lands, while over 250,000 lived in cities. Half of Native Americans lived in…

This digest reviews available data on Asians and Pacific Islanders (API) to assess their presence in the teaching profession. Although they are a rapidly expanding part of both the population and school enrollments, APIs constitute only one percent of all teachers, and are largely absent from teacher preparation programs, with their mean…

Drawing information from federal statistical sources, this digest summarizes recent changes in rural demographic and economic conditions relevant to rural school systems. Since the early 1990s, the U.S. economy has been strong, and rural areas have been growing at the same rate or faster than the nation's economic pace. Benefiting from the steady…

This digest reviews trends in adolescent sexual activity and discusses conceptual and programmatic approaches to pregnancy prevention. It discusses a pregnant adolescent's choices for resolving an unplanned pregnancy (i.e. abortion, adoption, keeping the baby, and marriage), and the challenges faced by teenage parents. The final section touches on…

The purpose of this literature review is to illustrate the implications of cultural diversity for career education and development. Discussed first are census data demonstrating the rapid increases in population of such groups as Asians/Pacific Islanders, African Americans, Native Americans, and Hispanics. Differences in world view are explored…

While becoming increasingly important to the economic and social development of the United States, Mexican-Americans still face barriers that hinder their full partnership in U.S. society. This ERIC digest is a summary of the latest available demographic and socioeconomic trends on Mexican-Americans. It discusses the broad implications for…

This fact sheet provides an overview of rural schools, people, and labor markets to help vocational educators better understand the needs of rural Americans. It is based on "A Portrait of Rural America: Conditions Affecting Vocational Education Policy" (Rosenfeld 1981). Data is presented on population trends, poverty, employment…

This review of the educational status of native Hawaiian students suggests the need for special programs that: (1) promote self-esteem and appreciation of multiculturalism while improving cognitive skills; and (2) encourage parent participation and the involvement of community leaders as role models. The effects of Federal programs (such as those…

This digest provides a demographic profile of family caregivers and discusses the emotional and physical burdens on family caregivers. It examines how caregivers cope with these burdens and highlights research findings on the most effective coping strategies. The digest concludes by summarizing the challenges to the helping profession in…

This monograph examines the phenomenon of retirement from the perspectives of the individual, the institution, and the socioeconomic system. In the first of five sections, the author looks at the evolution and institutionalization of the concept, discussing the effects of legislative and personnel policies, altered social and economic status, and…

This information analysis identifies emerging counseling priorities for the 1990s and suggests ways that counselors might prepare themselves for the future. The nine priorities discussed in the paper include: (1) learning to learn; (2) life transitions; (3) technology, computers, and counselors; (4) demographic trends and their impact on…

Projections show steady growth in the minority populations of the United States, but entry rates of minorities into postsecondary education are shrinking. Institutions of higher education are now being called upon to exercise leadership in addressing the problem of minority education before it reaches critical proportions. This report examines the…

Vocational education providers need knowledge of trends and critical issues in order to prepare workers for the future. The context of vocational education and training programs is greatly influenced by social, economic, and technological forces to which they must respond. Among the most important social trends are the following: (1) increase in…